The Telegraph has a slideshow of "stylish hostels".
Properties mentioned:
I think that it's good for mainstream media to give this kind of coverage to hostels because it shows that "hostel" doesn't mean "flophouse".
16 years
yeah you are right. In holland most people think hostels are shabby places and do not want to stay in them. I prefer a hotel they say.
Even when I tell them how nice most places are. Easy for groups private rooms possible, even then...
The media in holland has no idea what hostels are we call them jeugdherbergen. That was something from the past they think. Now we call them hostels and not "flophouse"!
16 years
In holland most people think hostels are shabby places and do not want to stay in them.
I didn't realize that the word "hostel" had bad connotations in Europe too. Maybe the newer wave of high-quality hostels should just start calling themselves "backpackers".
Maybe "Australian-style backpackers" is the way to go.
16 years
No sorry I mend something a bit different. I think hostel is not a wrong term to use in Europe, but 30+ travelers or business travelers (Fe journalists) prefer hotels no hostels. They expect high standards and think that hostels can not offer them what they want. Even many students and young travellers often just find a hotel for a weekend and not a hostel because they do not know what hostels/backpackers are.
OK sure, you cannot expect the same service from a 5 star hotels as from an affordable hostel/backpacker.
I do not think the name hostel or backpacker makes a big difference in Europe. Does anyone else has an opinion on this?
16 years
Maybe the newer wave of high-quality hostels should just start calling themselves "backpackers".
Maybe "Australian-style backpackers" is the way to go.
I don't think "Australian-style backpackers" is the best term. Two reasons:
Maybe "backpackers' hostel" to differentiate from the old-style "youth hostel", although the word backpacker has a different meaning in the United States.
Maybe it's best to stick with the word "hostel". Backpackers know what they are, and the really good ones make the effort to send press releases to the media showing how things have changed.
As the market matures the really good places displace the poorer quality hostels. I noticed this this while recently updating our Australia and New Zealand guidebooks. New hostels have been opening downunder, but the overall number of hostels has stayed static. That's because the market will only support a certain number of beds and the older hostels (the old run-down motels and pubs) close down because they can't compete with the flash new purpose-built hostels.
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